Values for a Lifetime

Today I reached a significant milestone; my car officially surpassed 100,000 miles since my arrival in Cincinnati. Over the past 18 months, I have traveled over 100,000 in my journeys (and sometimes repeat journeys) to 110 of the 113 Catholic schools of the Archdiocese. These trips have been among my favorite experiences thus far; there is simply no substitute for walking the halls of a Catholic school and witnessing the educational process firsthand. I have been deeply impressed by the talents and dedication of our teachers and they guide the children in their care.

During this time of year, I am always reminded of an experience from my first years as a Catholic school principal. During this time, I was approached by a second grade student who had recently been asked to lead her non-denominational Christian church in prayer during a Sunday service. Each week, the pastor asked a child from the church to lead the people in an opening blessing. On this Sunday, my student stepped in front of the large congregation, took a deep breath, and prayed “Hail Mary, full of Grace…”

I had the honor recently to visit the new Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial in Washington, DC. Fittingly, I visited on Martin Luther King Day. I found the experience to be quite moving. Joining with a diverse crowd from across the world, it was humbling to look upon the words and accomplishments of this great man, and to remember the great injustices that he peacefully and effectively battled.

As I visit schools and classrooms, I am always struck by the obvious impact the leadership has upon the Catholic school. A plethora of studies have indicated that positive leadership is the reason why schools succeed or fail. I have seen situations where demographics and finances work against a school, and yet the institution thrives due to an effective leader. In a school setting, leadership is embodied by the principal.

The year 2012 is upon us, and this is a good time to reflect on the upcoming year and think about how to make 2012 a success. As I consider 2012, I remain filled with hope and optimism for the future of our schools. As Superintendent, I would like to convey my New Year Resolutions in regards to our Catholic schools. These are:

It’s been a good week for our Catholic schools! Earlier this week, we learned that Chaminade-Julienne and Carroll High Schools were named recipients of the 2011 Governors’ Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEMM education. This prestigious award recognizes schools who received a perfect score in a state evaluation of their Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (i.e. “STEMM”) programs. As two of only five schools given the award this year, CJ and Carroll are truly setting the standard for outstanding STEMM education in our state.

Cincy Magazine, a business magazine in the Cincinnati area, recently put out its inaugural list of outstanding educators. Of the 25 teachers honored in the story, 15 were from Catholic schools. As we begin the 2011-2012 school year, it is important to remember that quality learning begins with a strong teacher. Technology and textbooks are important to the learning process, but nothing can replace an engaging and effective instructor.

The first days of August are already upon us, and we will soon welcome the start of the 2011-2012 school year. In some schools, teachers are already in classrooms preparing their courses and attending in-service meetings. School offices are already buzzing with phone calls and photocopies. Students will be back in some schools as early as next week. In short, the school year is set to begin.

The first round of Visioning Sessions for Catholic schools is now complete, and I am pleased to offer some general feedback on what we heard during these events. To recap, we held a series of seven Visioning Sessions in May and June. These sessions were part of our wider efforts to define a new vision for Catholic school education in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The purpose of these sessions was to hear directly from the people of the Archdiocese; as we build this vision, it is vital that our plan reflect the needs and insights of all who care about our schools.

Dear Catholic High School Graduates of the Class of 2011,